Adjustable jar element and sealing cup



Oct. 10, 1939. R. w. BANKS ADJUSTABLE JAR ELEMENT AND SEALING CUP FiledJune 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l awuo-n tor ROBERT W BAN/f5 4,3 Sim-mm;

Oct. 10, 1939. R. w. BANKS ADJUSTABLE JAR ELEMENT AND SEALING CUP FiledJune 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l'fiifilllillllfillllit a vucm Q ROBERT WBA NAS WODVWAJ I MW Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICERobert W. Banks, Memphil, T m.

Application June 25, 1937, Serial No. 150,405

This invention relates to adjustable jar elements and sealing cups, andhas for one of its objects the production of a simple and eflicientmeans attached to or carried by .a sealing cup which may be used forremoving the contents of a container.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple andemcient cup and jar element, the construction of which is so designed asto permit the container or jar to which the cup is connected, to bestacked one upon the other, and thereby occupy a minimum amount ofspace.

Another object of this invention is the production of a cup and dishingelement therefor, which -ing a modified form of the type of structure isso constructed as to be attached to a container to constitutea-sealed-in container wherein the dishing element is mounted within thecontainer for producing a sanitary covered and compact container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appearthroughout the following specification and claim.

In the drawings:

. Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a container and cupshowing one form of jar element;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a bottle having an element suchas a drinking straw carried by the cup, certain parts in Figure 4 beingshown in side elevation;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of my inventionshowing the type of cup and element as used with a receptacle of thepail type;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form of cupand serving element;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-4 of Figure 7; V

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of another modified form, certainparts being shown in elevation;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form ofcup, showing a medicine dropper in side elevation;

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of still another modified form ofmy invention;

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of a cup and serving element, theserving element having upwardly folding finger-gripping portions;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a vertical view taken on line l4-l4 of Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view of a fur- 5 ther modified form ofthe type of structure shown in Figure 12;

Figure 16 is a vertical sectional view of yet another modified form ofmy invention;

Figure 17 is a top shown in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a vertical sectional view of a structure slightly modifiedwith respect to Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a, vertical sectional view illustratshown in Figure 12;

Figure 20 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 19;

Figure 21 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of theinvention, wherein the serving 20 or dishing element is threaded intothe cup.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that Ill designates thecontainer in the type shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusiv of the jar typehaving a threaded upper end ll threaded a closure or sealing cap l2completely covering the outer end of the container It. A cup I3 isfitted within the outer end ll of the container l0 and tapers inwardlyto provide a cone-like structure, the upper outer edge of the cup l3being provided with a laterally extending annular flange H foroverhanging the outer end H of the container II, as shown in Figures 1and 3. This flange l4 fits between the outer end ll of the container l0and the inner face of the sealing cap l2. -A guiding neck l5 is'carriedby the upper face of the cup I! and extends upwardly through which thespoon or paddle element i6 extends, the neck I! fitting snugly aroundthe spoon or paddle element I 6 to com- 40 pletely seal the same and toalso provide an efficient scraping and cleaning means for the paddie It,as it is drawn upwardly through the bottom of the cup I! and the guidingneck It. The paddle or spoon element I 8 may be of any suitable ordesired type without departing from the spirit of the invention, but itis important that this element It be only of suflicient length to extendto the bottom II and terminate short of the under face I! of the cap II,as shown in Figure 1, when the parts are in a closed or sealed position.The guiding neck It preferably constitutes an upstanding collar fittingsnugly around the element It and a lateral annular flange ll, whichflange I8 is fitted snugly upon the upper face of plan view of thestructure 4 upon which is 25 the bottom of the cup l3, as shown. Theparts may be formed of pressed sheet metal and stamped to the desiredshape. The cup it, as stated above, is preferably conical shaped to fltconveniently and easily within the upper end of the container Hi.

It should be borne in mind that in the structure shown in Figure 3, aswell as in the other forms described in the following, the dishing orserving paddle or spoon element of any type is adapted to lie in itsnormal position below or flush with the outer or upper edge of thesupporting element, such as the cap or cup.

In Figure 4, there is shown a modified type oi. the invention as appliedto a container in the nature of a bottle, indicated by the numeral IS. Acup 20 is fitted within the outer end of the neck of the bottle and isprovided with a laterally extending annular flange 2| overhanging theouter end of the neck of the bottle. A sealing cap 22 is fitted andclamped over the outer end of the neck of the bottle I! so as to clampthe flange 2| between the cap 22 and the outer end of the neck of thebottle |9. The cup 28 is provided with an upstanding collar 23 formedaround a central aperture formed in the cup 2|) through which a drinkingstraw 24 extends. The straw is adapted to extend to the bottom of thebottle I! may be drawn through the collar 23 upwardly, the strawnormally being of a length to be shielded by the cap 22, the outer endof the drinking straw or tube 24 terminating short of the outer end ofthe cup 20.

In Figure there is shown a modified form of the invention as applied toa container of the particular type indicated by the numeral 25 whichcontainer is provided with an inset ledge 26, the inner edge of which isupturned to provide a sealing flange 21 at its inner periphery. A cupmember 28 is fltted within theouter end of the container 25 and isprovided with an outwardly extending annular flange 29 along its upperperiphery which overhangs and flts upon the flange 21 as well asoverhanging the inset ledge 28. The cup 28 is provided with a sealingand guiding upstanding neck 30 through which a dishing or servingelement such as a paddle 3| extends, the paddle 3| extending from thecup 28 to the bottom of the receptacle and sliding through the neck 88,the upper end of the paddle 3| normally lying substantially flush withthe flange 29. A sealing cap 32 of the clincher type flts over the outerend of the container 25 and is provided with a clincher flange 33adapted to tightly engage and seal the shoulder 34.

In Figures 6, '7 and 8, there is shown a still further modified type ofthe invention wherein a conventional serving fork 35 is shown having ashank portion which is concavo-convex in cross section extending througha suitable crescent shaped aperture 36 formed in the cup 3'! so that theelement 35 may be snugly engaged throughout its transverse extremity asthe element is drawn through the cup 31. A reinforcing plate 38 iscarried by the upper face of the cup 31 and is provided with a bracingtongue 38 struck from the aperture 48 for engaging one face of theelement 31, as shown in Figures 6 and 8. The cup 3'! is provided with anoutwardly extending annular flange 4| which is adapted to rest upon theupper end of a container C, the container C being shown in dotted lines.A suitable sealing cap such as the cap i2 may be used in connectiontherewith and the cup 31 may be used in conjunction with the containersuch as the container ill, and may be substituted for the cup ll it de-5 red.

Asshown in Figures 9, and 11, I have illustrated certain types ofimplements or elements which may be supported by a cup 42 which isadapted to flt into the upper end of a container C shown in dottedlines, similar to the container III shown in Figure 1. In the type shownin Figure 9, the cup 42 supports a syringe 43. The type shown in Figure10 illustrates the cup 42a supporting a medicine dropper 43a. In thetype shown in Figure 11, the cup 42b supports a spoon 44 having athreaded shank 45 extending through a threaded collar 48 carried by thecup 42b. The shank 45 carries a gripping knob 41 at its upper endnormally lying substantially flush with the upper edge of the cup 42, asshown.

In Figures 12 to 14 inclusive, I have shown a further modified type ofmy invention, embodying a supporting cup 48 which is adapted to fit intothe outer end of a container such as the container land supported in amanner similar to the cup l3 shown in Figure 1. This cup 48 supports apaddle element 49 which is slidably mounted through the bottom of thecup 48, as shown, and the upper end thereof is provided with atransverse aperture 50 through which is extended a bendable or flexiblestrip 5| normally lying flat upon the bottom of the cup 48, as shown inFigure 12. The ends of the strip 5| may be bent upwardly to the positionshown in dotted lines in Figure 12 to provide a finger grip tofacilitate the drawing of the paddle element 49 upwardly through theaperture 52 formed in the bottom of the cup 48, which action will scrapethe faces of the paddle 49 and cause the paddle to be kept clean when itis drawn above the cup 48.

In Figure there is shown a still further modifled form of the inventionalong the line of that shown in Figures 12 to 14, embodying a cup 48asupporting a paddle element 49a extending through a centrally locatedaperture formed in the cup 48a, the upper end of the paddle 49a normallylying below the upper edge of the cup 48a. A pair of flat strips 53normally lie flat upon the bottom of the cup 48a and are provided withupstanding ends 54 which are riveted or otherwise anchored to oppositesides of the upper end of the paddle 49a. These strips 53 may be swungupwardly to the position shown in dotted lines to providefinger-gripping means, for drawing the paddle 48a upwardly through thecup 48a.

In Figures 16 and 17 there is shown another form of the inventionwherein is illustrated a cup 55 through the center of which is extendeda paddle 56 having an overhanging head 51 which overhangs the aperturethrough which the paddle extends. A transverse sealing strip 58preferably of paper or other fragile material is extended through thepaddle 55 directly below the cup 55 to provide an eflicient seal. Whenit is desired to break the seal and use the paddle to adjust itsposition within the cup 55, this may be done by gripping the head 51 bythe fingers and pulling upwardly, thereby breaking the fragile strip 58.

In Figure 18 a further modified type of struc ture is shown embodying acup 59 carrying a paddle 88 which extends centrally through the cup 59upwardly and carries a hood 6| at its upper end which is adapted to becemented or in any other manner fixed to the upper face of the cup 59.When it is desired to use the paddle 59, the hood 6| may be gripped bythe fingers and pulled upwardly breaking the connection between the hoodand the cup and allowing the paddle to be adjusted such as is shown indotted lines in Figure 18. I

In Figures 19 and 20, there is shown a still further modifled form ofthe invention somewhat similar to that shown in Figures 12 to 15. Inthis type shown in Figures 19 and 20 a threaded metallic cap 62 isillustrated which is adapted to thread over a conventional jar and thiscap 62 is provided with an inset central portion 63 through which isslidably mounted a paddle element 6| having laterally extending fingergrip strips 65 hingedly secured at the upper end of the paddle element64 and normally lying within the inset portion 63 substantially flushwith the upper face of the cap 62. This type is especially adapted foruse in shallow receptacles where it is desired to pack a maximum amountof material within the receptacle. These strips 65 may be swung to theposition shown in dotted lines in Figure 19 for facilitating the raisingand lowering of the paddle element 64, and these strips 65 substantiallyconform tothe shape of the inset portion 63, such as shown in Figure 20,a portion thereof being cut oil to provide a flat edge 66 to facilitatethe raising of the strips 65 from a position shown in full lines inFigure 19 to a position shown in dotted lines.

In Figure 2 1' there is shown yet a further modified form of theinvention wherein a metallic threaded cap 61 is illustrated having aninset threaded neck 68 through which a dishing element 9 extends, thedishing element 6! having a threaded head 10 which is adapted to fitwithin the threaded neck 68 and normally lie flush with the outer faceof the cap 61 when the element II and the head II are in a closedposition. The element I! may be raised by unthreading the head II fromthe inset threaded neck I! as will be obvious by considering Figure 21.

In the form shown in Figure 1 wherein the cup I! is in the nature of acone, the cup I! may be dropped into the open end of the container andbecause of the fact that the cup tapers toward its inner end, the cupwill right itself to the proper position when placed in the neck of thecontainer. Furthermore, the cup or associated elements may be made fromany suitable material depending upon the chemical nature of the materialplaced within the container. I have provided a very sanitary coveredseal for containers which will keep dirt and insects and germs fromcontaminating the contents of the container. It is not desired to limitthe present invention to any particular type of serving element, cap orcontainer, and certain detail changes may be made in the mechanicalconstruction so long as these changes fall within the scope of theappended claims and constitute only a matter of design. The structure asdefined in this application facilitates the packing and shipping of thecontainers in a minimum amount of space, thereby saving shipment chargesas well as packing charges. The containers because of the cap and cupconstruction may be uniformly stacked in a comparatively small space onshelves and the like since the containers may be stacked one uponanother, the cap and cup as well as the serving element providing aflush upper end for the cap.

It.should be understood that the serving element in the nature of thepaddle, spoon or other structure, should at all times extend tightlythrough thecup, the cup protecting the hands and preventing insects andthe like from entering the container, as well as preventing the contentsof the container from drying and hardening from evaporation. Should thecup and element be lifted from the container and held upside down, thedrippings from the element will fall on the cup and prevent thesubstance upon the element from being wasted since the substance willdrop on the cup and not upon other objects. When the cup is returnedtothe container, the substance will drop from the bottom back into thecontainer. I

Having described the invention what I claim as new is:

In combination with a container having an open outer end, said containerhaving an inset flange providing a ledge portion at the open endthereof, the ledge portion having an upturned periphery, a cup having alateral flange overhanging said ledge portion, a dishing elementsuspended from said cup, and a snap cover cap fitting over the openouter end of said container for sealing the same and clamping saidlateral flange of said cup upon said inset flange of said container.

ROBERT W. BANKS.

